Co-Founder and CEO at Crater Studios
Noni Amnon Israel
Noni (Amnon) Israel is the co-founder and CEO of Crater Studios, where he is pioneering a Micro-AAA development model that blends high-quality game development with lean, scalable production. With a background in game development, technology, and business strategy, Noni previously worked at Epic Games, Apple, Blizzard Entertainment and Meta, gaining deep expertise in game design, player engagement, and platform growth. Passionate about pushing the boundaries of game development, he co-founded Crater Studios to prove that AAA-quality games can be built faster and more efficiently using AI-driven workflows, modular development, and rapid iteration cycles. Under his leadership, Crater Studios has raised $2M from top investors, launched Dwarven Realms to over 150,000 players, and is building a scalable ecosystem of interconnected games.
Questions & Answers
What's the story behind your company?
Crater Studios was born out of a simple but ambitious idea: AAA-quality games shouldn’t take five years and hundreds of millions of dollars to make. My twin brother and I saw firsthand how bloated development cycles were slowing down innovation. Inspired by the speed and iteration of mobile game development, we set out to bring that efficiency to PC and console gaming—without sacrificing quality. With a Micro-AAA approach, we leverage AI-driven workflows, modular development, and early player feedback to build high-quality games faster, leaner, and more sustainably than traditional studios. In just one year, we’ve launched Dwarven Realms (150,000+ players, $850K revenue), expanded to a team of 10, and are building an interconnected ecosystem of games designed for long-term engagement.
What sets you apart from others in your industry?
Traditional AAA game development is slow, expensive, and high-risk, requiring large teams and years of iteration before seeing results. In contrast, Crater Studios operates like a high-velocity game incubator, where we: Rapidly prototype and test concepts instead of spending years in pre-production. Leverage AI and prebuilt frameworks to accelerate development and reduce costs. Ship games in months instead of years, focusing on early access, live-service updates, and player-driven iteration. We don’t just develop games—we build an ecosystem where each title compounds the success of the last. This approach allows us to scale efficiently, build strong communities, and maximize engagement across multiple interconnected experiences.
What problem or opportunity inspired you to start your company, and how has your vision evolved since then?
The game industry is at an inflection point. Making great games is more accessible than ever, yet the traditional AAA model is slow, expensive, and filled with inefficiencies. We saw an opportunity to bridge the gap—bringing AAA quality with indie speed and efficiency. Initially, our vision was to prove that small, highly specialized teams could compete with AAA studios. After launching Dwarven Realms and seeing real market validation, we expanded our vision to building an interconnected game ecosystem, where every title benefits from shared technology, player communities, and live-service growth. Now, Crater Studios isn’t just proving a new way to build games—it’s redefining what a next-generation game studio can be.
